Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Weight Loss Success, Using a Clean Diet and Workout Videos

Weight Loss Success, Using a Clean Diet and Workout Videos
Diet and weight loss success can be achieved by sticking to
a clean diet and using some great workout videos, it's that
simple!

When you hear the words diet, workout or weight loss, what
comes to mind? What if I asked you to conjure up the
thought of health & workout videos? Would it be an absolute
dread or your life long supreme challenge?

Well, those words should not bring any of those negative
thoughts to mind - they simply should mean your living a
healthy way of life. It is something that we all should
look forward to. There are so many alternatives out there
to keeping ourselves physically fit, heart healthy and
mentally balanced. It is also important to know that no one
is alone in their quest to find the right weight loss and
workout regime that we can stick to and perform on a long
term basis.

That is why I would like to discuss two very important
steps in getting you to your goal or as I like to refer to
it as my "happy place."

Different types of Exercise & A Low Fat, Clean Diet Plan.

Never ending fad diets are proven not to work well for the
majority of people. You might read or hear of amazing
results but they never tell you that they are usually short
lived, leaving you back with the weight you have lost and
then some. For those of you just starting out, I think the
best suggestions I could give would be to begin with a Low
Fat Diet, meaning keeping your fat intake to under 10-15
fat grams per meal. You will find that by doing this, your
caloric intake should decrease or stay within the 1,000 to
1,800 calories per day.

- Never skip meals - especially breakfast. This is your
most important meal of the day. Just as a vehicle cannot
run without the proper fuel, neither can our bodies, as it
is the most amazing machine known to man.

- You should break larger meals down to 4-6 smaller meals
per day - eating them about 3 hours apart. When we keep
fueling our bodies with high octane protein and complex
carbs, you will experience a smooth ride throughout your
busy day. In return, your metabolism will begin to burn
higher and your insulin swings will diminish. No more
extreme sugar cravings and temptations to stuff sugar
laden, fat ridden foods into our mouths like donuts, candy
bars and salty processed chips. And heaven forbid, PLEASE
stay away from those fried foods and Super Sized Fast Food
places! Here's a thought...When we don't plan our meals and
shop accordingly, we set ourselves up for failure.

Another suggestion for even faster weight loss would be to
eliminate sugar and all heavily processed foods from your
diet. This at first might seem quite impossible to you. You
might even ask...."Then what is left to eat in the world?"

My answer to you is in what I mentioned in my opening title
to this article - Eat clean. This simply means to reset
your thinking to eating all foods in their most natural
form.

For instance, all fruit comes in natures most perfect
package - so do vegetables, legumes, whole grains and all
varieties of beans. It was not until man stepped in and
started stripping these great foods of their natural
nutrients by adding preservatives and processing them for a
longer shelf life and aesthetics, that we started our
"Battle of the Bulge." It is the reason for the alarming
statistics of childhood obesity and heart disease in
America today.

This is really so simple...learn to enjoy and taste foods
in their natural state. Do not drown a nice fresh salad in
creamy processed bottled dressing. Opt for fresh lemon
juice and a small amount of Extra Virgin Olive Oil or
Virgin Coconut Oil. Mix in some fresh garlic, oregano,
cracked pepper and sea salt to taste. Then see your taste
buds come to life.

Same advice goes for preparing all your meals:

- When grocery shopping or dining out, make all your
choices with your health in mind. Choose only lean meats
and fish, keep a large variety of fresh veggies and salads
in mind. Opt for whole grain dark breads and forget about
the butter. For those of you who just can't live without
their pasta, make the switch to whole grain brands, they
still have lots of carbs but contain high protein.

- Try and stay away from alcoholic beverages. The sugar
content is high and will turn to fat.

- Try and do all your eating before 7pm. Don't make your
last meal a heavy one. Opt for some organic plain yogurt
with a portion of fresh fruit. Call that your dessert.

My last suggestion to you:

Don't forget to drink a least 100oz. of water per day to
keep your system fully hydrated. Please try and avoid all
diet and processed sugary drinks.

Now, on to the 2nd Step - Exercise

Before you sign up for that monthly, high priced gym
membership, read the next paragraph. Don't get me wrong, I
belong to a family type gym myself, and actually use the
facility as least 4 times per week, but that was not always
the case with me. I had to mentally and physically work
myself up to committing to a gym membership. Here is how I
did it...

One of the best resources available today, is the vast
variety of health and workout videos. They are an extremely
versatile way of working out and achieving weight loss,
using professional methods. No matter what your age or
level of fitness...there is a workout video that will best
suit your individual needs and type of lifestyle. There are
literally hundreds of videos designed for stretching,
toning, weight loss and fat burning. You can exercise in
the comfort and privacy of your own home. Unlike a
structured gym, with set hours and time sensitive classes,
a video can be used at any hour of the day or night- they
are also great when traveling. They are fun to watch and
extremely motivating. They are designed with background
music, which as we all know can be a powerful tool when it
comes to exercise. The more upbeat the music, the higher
your enthusiasm level will be. When it comes to stretching,
Yoga or Pilates, a softer, more instrumental music
background might pass the time away and make your workout
seem effortless.

Another suggestion I have for your at home workout routine,
would be to purchase the right tools to make your workout
as productive as possible. Invest in a good exercise mat,
stability ball, a set of hand weights ranging from 5, 10
and 12 pound weights should work just fine. As well as a
set of resistance bands. You can invest in other props as
you advance in your workouts and your strength levels
increase. When adding these simple suggestions into your
daily routine, it will make it easier to stick to a program
you have basically custom designed for yourself. You will
improve your health and energy level and move closer to
your desired fitness goals.


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Dori Schwaiger is an expert author on diet and fitness, she
is also the owner of http://www.Tophealthspot.com , which
has become a destination on the web for health minded
people. Check out our vast selection of workout videos and
top diet plans all with online money saving coupons and
exclusive private sale offers!

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